10/07/2026
💙❤Warrior Wednesday❤💙
Meet Lakyn! He is 6wks old with DORV (Taussig-Bing Anomaly), d-TGA, Coarctation of the Aorta and VSD.
"Lakyn’s heart journey began at our 17-week anatomy scan, when we were told something was wrong with his heart. We were initially diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries (TGA), and our world changed in an instant. At 23 weeks, we had our first fetal echocardiogram, where doctors discovered his heart condition was even more complex. In addition to TGA, Lakyn was diagnosed with Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV) with a Taussig-Bing anomaly, along with coarctation of the aorta. We went on to have two more fetal echocardiograms as his team closely monitored his heart and planned for the specialized care he would need after birth. At 34 weeks, I developed severe preeclampsia and had to deliver Lakyn by C-section. He was immediately transferred to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, where he began receiving lifesaving care from the moment he was born. His first few weeks of life were filled with ups and downs. He underwent a balloon atrial septostomy to improve the mixing of oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood while we prepared for his first open-heart surgery. When Lakyn was just over a month old, he underwent the Norwood procedure. During surgery, his surgeons discovered that his tricuspid valve was not suitable for the planned two-ventricle repair because of abnormalities in the valve’s chordae, so they had to change course and perform the Norwood single-ventricle reconstruction instead. After surgery, his heart struggled to support his circulation, and he required ECMO, a form of heart-lung bypass that allows the heart and lungs to rest while the body continues receiving oxygenated blood. Shortly after being placed on ECMO, Lakyn went into cardiac arrest and needed approximately 30 minutes of CPR before his circulation returned. It was the longest, most terrifying day of our lives, but our little warrior never gave up. Since then, Lakyn has continued to amaze us with his strength. He was successfully weaned off ECMO and has made steady progress, but his journey is far from over. His biggest challenge right now is coming off the breathing tube. He’s developed pneumonia and has struggled with thick mucus plugging his lungs, making extubation difficult despite otherwise encouraging progress. Every day has brought new hurdles, but he continues to fight through each one with incredible resilience. Lakyn has already overcome more in the first weeks of his life than many people face in a lifetime. He has taught us what true courage looks like. Through every surgery, every setback, and every victory, he continues to show us that even the tiniest hearts can be the strongest. We are endlessly grateful for his medical team, our family and friends, and the CHD community who have carried us through this journey. We know Lakyn still has a long road ahead, but we also know he is one incredible heart warrior.
Lakyn has charged the storm from the very beginning. Before he was even born, he faced a complex congenital heart defect and fought through every challenge pregnancy placed in his path. Since birth, he has endured more than most people will in a lifetime, including multiple cardiac procedures, open-heart surgery, ECMO, 30 minutes of CPR, countless blood draws, chest tubes, ventilators, and now the ongoing battle to heal his lungs and come off the breathing tube. Through it all, he has never stopped fighting. Time after time, when the odds felt overwhelming, Lakyn has shown us just how strong he is. He continues to recover from setbacks that once felt impossible and reminds us every day that hope can exist even in the hardest moments. Because of Lakyn, we’ve learned to celebrate every tiny victory, whether it’s a stable day, a good chest X-ray, a successful feed, or simply getting to hold his hand. He has brought together family, friends, and even complete strangers who have prayed, donated, encouraged us, and walked beside us throughout this journey. Lakyn may have a heart that was born differently, but he has the heart of a warrior. He has shown us that courage isn’t the absence of fear. Courage is choosing to keep fighting despite it. Every single day, he charges the storm with a strength far bigger than his tiny body, and we couldn’t be more proud to call him our son."
